Skate-clamp.



No, 707,090. PATENTBD APR. 11,0905. s. w. FINGH.

SKATE CLAMP.

APPLIUATION FILED JAN. 9. 1904. BENEWED FEB. 3.1905.

STNLEY lV. FINUH, OF lVASHl Patented April 11, 1905.

@Tirreno GTON, lDIS'IRlCrl OF COLUMBIA.

SKATE-CLAMP.

SECIFECAION forming part of Letters Patent No. 787,090, dated April l1, 1905.

Application filed January 9,1904, Renewed February 3, 1905. Serial No. 244.045.

Be it known that I, STANLEY M". FINCH, a citizen of the United States, residing at. \Vash ing-ton, in the District of (ffolumbia, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Skate-Clamps, of which the following' is a specilication.

My present invention pertains to improvements in skate-clamiis, the construction and advantages of which will be hereinafter set forth, reference being had to the annexed drawings. whereinn Figure l is a perspective view of an iceskate embodying my invention, the foot-plates being' shown in outline only in order more clearly to disclose the clamp; Fig. Q, a longitudinal sectional view on the line 2 2 of Fig. l, portions of the skate being omitted; Fig. 3, a` rear elevation of the equalizing member, the actuating-screw aimearing in section; Fig. i, a perspective view of a modilied form of construction, and Fig. 5 a similar view illustrating a further modilication.

The object of my invention is to provide a simple and etlicient skate-clamp, the heel and sole members of which may be brought into properclamping position through the manipulation of a single actuating device, the parts properly positioning or equalizing themselves as the actuating device is manipulated.

With the present construction the rear heelclamps are stationary, the forward heel-clamp alone being movable, so that the foot of the wearer will always occupy the same position with relation to the runner (or rollers) of the skate. Furthermore, the construction is such that the movable heel-clamp and the soleclamps will be automatically and perfectly adjusted to the heel and sole of the wearer`s shoe as the actuating device manipulated. ln other words, the forward heel-clamp and the sole-clamps have an intermediate equalizing connection, which causes all of said clamps to come, respectively. into contact with the heel and the sole of the shoe before any direct pressure is applied to either. Vin this manner the same force is applied to each clamp.

heferring first to Figs. l to 3, inclusive, A

denotes the sole-plate; B, the heel-plate, and

(f the runner, the invention being' shown as applied to an ice-skate for the purpose of illustration, though it is equally well adapted for use in connection with ioller-slmtes.

Mounted beneath the sole-plate A are the sole-clamps l) l), said clamps being of the usual construction, each having an upstanding end IC and a slot F, through which passes a rivet (i. The clamps curve inwardly toward their rear ends, at which point they are pivotally connected to a draw-bar or link l'l, which extends rearwardly beneath heel-plate B, where it is pivotally connected to one end of an equalizing-lever or cross-bar i'.

J denotes the movable heel-clamp, which works in conjunction with the lixed heelclamps l( K, Vformed as an integral portion of heel-plate B. The body of clamp J underlies heel-plate B and is formed with a slot L, through which passes a rivet or stud M, secured to said heel-plate. The clamp is provided with a rearward extension J, which corresponds to or is the equivalent of the draw-bar H, said extension being pivotally connected to thc cross-bar or equaliZing-lcver 1 at that end opposite its connection with drawbar i-l.

A stud or post N is pivotally connected to the cross-bar or equaliZing-levcr I at its midlength, said stud or post being provided with a transverse threaded opening' designed to receive a screw O. 'l'he rear or outer end of said screw passes through a downwardly-extending ear or lingerl, which latter is formed as an integral part of heel-plateB. Screw O is held against endwise movement through ear or linger i) by the nut or block Q, which is secured upon said screw adjacent to the inner or forward Vface of ear l), and by the thumb-nnt l, secured upon the outer end of screw O.

By turning screw t.) in one or the other direction eqnalizing-lever l will be moved bodily forward or backward, as the case may be, either opening or closing the clamps. Ylt is to be noted, however, that if the sole-clamps come into contact with the edge of the shoesole before the heel-clamp comes into contact with the heel the sole-clamps will come to rest, and a further rotationof the screw t) will serve to swing the equalizing-lever bodily,

IOO

the pivotal point of attachment of said lever and drawbar H becoming the fulcrum of the lever. Such movement will then draw heel-clamp .I into contact with the heel of the shoe, and when this occurs the cross-bar or lever I will draw alike on the heel-clamp and the sole-clamps through draw-bar H, thereby insuring an equal degree of pressure upon the heel and the sole of the shoe of the wearer. It will of course be seen that the sole-clamps will adjust themselves as readily as the heelclamp should the latter be the first to come into contact.

It is also to be noted that the heel-clamp is drawn directly against the shoe-heel and not pushed to place, such adjustment being objectionable for various reasons.

Instead of employing a thumb -nut any means for actuating the screw may be used.

A modification of the heel-clamp is illustrated in Fig. 4 ot' the drawings. Instead of forming the clamp of asingle piece of metal a separately-formed clamp S is connected to a draw-bar T by a rivet U, said rivet passing down through a slot formed in the heel-plate. The rear end of the draw-bar is pivotally connected to the equalizing-lever, as shown.

In Fig. 5 a further modification is shown, wherem the heel-clamp 1s formed of a single piece of metal. rlhe clam ping-finger Vstands at right angles to the main body IV of the clamp, a reduced neck X extending through a slot formed in the heel-plate. It is essential, of course, that the clamping-finger be passed through the slot and then turned before the parts are fully assembled.

It is evident that any desirable form of soleclamps may be employed, so long as they are connected to the equalizing-lever in such manner as to obtain the results above set forth.

A mereinspection of the drawings will show that the parts of the invention are all directly and positively connected, so that there is no liability of the clamps slipping or becoming disconnected.

It is to be noted that the equalizing-lever is located in rear of the movable heel-clamp. In fact, it underlies the heel-plate and is ordinarily hidden from view and not in any way obtrusive or objectionable.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim isl. In a skate, the combination of a pair of sole-clamps; a draw-bar pivotally connected thereto and extending rearwardly of the skate; fixed heel-clamps; a movable heel-clamp; an equalizing-lever located in rear of the movable heel-clamp and pivotally connected at one end to the rear end of the draw-bar and at its opposite end pivotally connected to the movable heel-clamp; and an actuating device pivotally connected to the equalizing-lever intermediate its ends, whereby the clamp will be drawn to place, substantially as described.

2. In a skate, the combination of a pair of sole-clamps; a draw-bar pivotall;7 connected thereto and extending rearwardly of the skate; fixedheel-clamps adapted to bear against the rear of the heel; a movable heel-clamp adapted to be drawn against the breast of the heel; a memberextending rearwardly from said movable heel-clamp; an equalizing-lever pivotally connected to the draw-bar and said member; and an actuating member pivotally connected to the lever, for moving the same bodily toward or from the rear end of the skate.

3. In a skate, the combination of a footplate; a pair of sole-clamps slidabl y connected to said plate; a draw-bar pivotally connected to the rear ends of the sole-clamps; fixed heelclamps extending upwardly from the Jfootplate; a movable heel-clamp; an equalizinglever located in rear of the movable heelolamp and pivotally connected at its opposite ends to the draw-bar and the heel-clamp; a post pivotally connected to said lever intermediate its ends; and an actuating-screw carried by the foot-plate and having its forward end passing into a threaded opening formed in the post.

4. In a skate, the combination of a pair of sole-clamps; a draw-bar pivotally connected thereto and extending rearwardly of the skate; fixed heel-clamps adapted to bear against the rear of the heel; a movable heel-clamp adapted to be drawn against the breast of the heel; a member extending rearwardly from said movable clamp; an equalizing-lever located in rear of the movable heel-clamp and pivotally connected to the draw-bar and said member; a post pivotally connected to said lever intermediate its ends; and an actuating-screw passing into a threaded opening formed in the post.

5. In a skate, the combination of a pair of sole-clamps; a draw-bar pivotally connected thereto; a fixed heel-clamp; a movable heelclamp acting on the breast of the heel; an equalizer located in rear of the movable heelclamp and pivotally connected thereto; a pivotal connection intermediate the draw-bar and the equalizer; and means, acting in conjunction with the equalizer, for drawing the clamps to place.

6. In a skate, the combination of a pair of sole-clamps; a fixed Aheel-clamp; a movable heel-clamp adapted to be drawn against the breast ofl the heel; an equalizer located in rear of the movable heel-clamp and pivotally connected thereto; pivotal connections intermediate the sole-clam p and the equalizer; and means for actuating said parts.

In testimony whereofI have signed my name to this specification in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

STANLEY WV. FINCH.

Witnesses:

HORACE A. DODGE,A CHARLES H. RAEDER. 

